Subject: Re: Varied Thrushes
Date: Jan 29 04:38:52 1996
From: PAGODROMA at aol.com - PAGODROMA at aol.com


Arlene Sopranzetti, Renton, WA:

>Today amongst the beautiful white snow I had a pair of Varied Thrushes
>in my backyard. I put out birdseed, apple slices, and raisins but they
>were more interested in scratching around the base of a pine tree. I
>was treated to many long looks and a couple of photographs.


Varied thrushes are absolutely gorgeous, *especially* in the snow. The adult
males seem to be brighter than ever. I have up to 15 at one time which come
around my feeders here in Eastgate / Bellevue. They seem to really like
white millet which I loosely scatter around in the yard, and especially just
outside my basement home office window where I can see them at eye-level and
within a foot. However, that kind of makes them sitting ducks ...uh, er,
thrushes... for hungry accipiters, Cooper's especially, which snatch one now
and then. Sharpies usually go for the smaller birds. I had one varied
thrush last winter fly into the window in an attempt to flee one of those
forest marauders, my only window kill that I'm aware of. I felt bad about
it, and tried to set the bird up looking life like on a post thinking maybe
the Coop would take it and the thrushes death wouldn't have been a total
waste, but the hawk never took up the offer. --Richard

Richard Rowlett <pagodroma at aol.com>
Bellevue, WA, USA